Menú principal

Women’s Green Yard

Desarrollo económico

Women’s Green Yard

NOMBRE DEL PROYECTO: Women’s Green Yard

PAÍS/CIUDAD: Gambia / Katatorr y Sanyang

DURACIÓN: 2014 and onwards

The project “Painting Africa: Women Against Malaria” aims to combat malaria and other diseases transmitted by pests by raising women’s awareness and educating them in matters concerning hygiene, cleanliness and sanitation, thereby giving them a significant role in improving sanitary conditions for their families.

The first phase of the project was carried out in the community of Ahwiam and involved an intensive campaign of cleaning, waste removal and raising awareness among the people. To do so, there was also participation from the local NGO “Wildaf Ghana”, the authorities and the local waste management company responsible for rubbish collection in the community. The containers were installed in the places proposed by the community and an agreement was reached on how often the rubbish is to be collected. Although an initiative such as this may seem like a modest one, it managed to change the local population's attitude and mobilise it on a massive scale. Furthermore, the women are becoming true drivers of social transformation.

In order to raise awareness and mobilise the local population as regards the importance of suitably managing waste and maintaining good conditions of hygiene, a series of fun, artistic activities were held, with the community of Ahwiam actively involved. Workshops were organised for adults aimed at showing waste management to be a responsibility and a right, as well as activities for children in order to raise their awareness in a fun way.

The second phase of the project kicked off in 2016. The We Are Water Foundation has also participated and we have drawn up an architectural project with them to build a public toilet and shower building in Ahwiam. The aim is to create facilities and infrastructure based on environmental and economic sustainability, helping to improve the town’s sanitary conditions.

Once up and running, this service will be run by a group of women from the village, financed by fees from the citizens to use the toilets and by sales from a small shop included in the facilities. The facilities are being constructed by a local builder.